My picks and such

Hey, MB has here quote of the day, which I respect and upon which I will not tread.

I figure, I've read more than most here, even Matt White, so I will inflict my views on you.  You do not have to follow, but comments are always welcome.

Today's author - Orson Scott Card.  His "Ender's Game" is one of the best, if not the best in the Genre.  People who don't read Sci-Fi love it.  My son, who does not read for pleasure, enjoyed it sufficiently that he read the entire series.  His entire 8th grade class (20 kids) read it and enjoyed the book.  My DS&WW liked it, and she does not read the genre either.

I have standing bets that those reading it will find it enjoyable.  Takers?

You treaded on MB's quotes thread back in January.

Taken directly from his "The Devil's Dictionary."  You can mine that one for a year, MB.

Chafrlie

That's not treading.  i did not offer my quote of the day.  That would be treading. 

tread    -verb, trod, trod·den or trod, tread·ing, noun
9. (of a male bird) to copulate with (a female bird).

-andy

Andy and Rob FTW!

Thanks, i will now clean up the near beer that came through my nose. you guys are just mean, down right mean....i was getting near drunk of my near beer. non-alcohol abuse damn it.....but I must high five, that was  damn good.

good thread

And perhaps, if one takes Andy's 9th definition, a good tread?  Although why Joe would jump on that one is anyone's guess.

To belatedly commemorate the anniversary of his Sir Winston's demise with a few of his lesser known quotes:

Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed.
 

An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.

 
History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.

I wish I had a flashy picture to say "This thread is funny!!!"

I don't though...so I'm just going to say the picture of 2 birds going at it is pretty damn funny.

This week's selections:
Sci-fi  Lord of Light by Roger Zelazney.  I lent Jeremy a copy and hopefully he will post a review, but it is one of those books I read every five years or so.  A grandmaster of dialogue and character development both.  Those of you who prefer fantasy, try his Amber series.  For straight humor, "Bring me the Head of Prince Charming."

Non-fiction - its election season (primaries), so its time to read that really short rulebook The Constitution of the United States.  If you have never read it, give it a whirl.

I'm going to read "Good Masters!  Sweet Ladies! but that is light fare.  i am going to start a book on King Phillips War, but not having read it, I cannot recommend it as yet.  the war, however, was per capita the bloodiest in American recorded history.  True total war.  Had it been started 10 years earlier...

A+ teamwork by Rob and Andy.

I have to know, though, how did Rob get that photo? Did you Google "bird porn"? It just seems like a very odd photo to have turned up so easily...

"bird sex" actually. Google image search is teh w1n.

there is nothing you can't find with Google images... Im mildly sure of it

I am in agreement with Matt, does seem strange to able to access bird porn so quickly...However Google does seem to have alot of good parties:

maniacworld.com/internet-party.html

"King Phillip's War" is a definite read for serious students of the colonial period in North America.  The author raises several issues and treats the subject with as much neutrality as possible.  The sections and comments on the aftermath of the war (which, per capita, had the highest percentage of deaths per INHABITANT in our history) is particularly telling.  The Christian community, which was almost universally Protestant and largely Puritan, came to question in plain words their worthiness to be Christian after their actions.  Many who wrote from the Indian side had the same sentiments, but in regards to their people's beliefs.

In the sci-fi area, and of particular interest to KR folk is Gordon Dickson's short story "Call Him Lord" which concerns determining the fitness of a hereditary ruler's heir to assume the position.  For that matter, if you are a fantasy buff, try his "The Dragon and the George." first of a short series of books with the same cast.

It’s been awhile, but I wanted to see how my earlier Science Fiction/Fantasy picks fared before inflicting my views once again.  I am more than happy to say that Jeremy and Lisa Hill both liked Lord of Light, saving me from having to eat the book if they found it lacking.  Mike Dennis is now reading it.

I will stick with Roger Zelazney for now, and suggest his “Lord Demon” for a fun fantasy read.  If you want serious, I again urge you to read Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s War” (or Ender’s Game”) followed by “Ender’s Shadow.”  Even people who do not like sci-fi liked it.

If you are into fantasy, try Zelazney’s Amber series, starting with “Nine Princes of Amber.”  I always like discovering an author I  like who has lots of stuff out there, and the Amber series is ten books. 

Want something with a woman Protagonist?  Try David Weber’s Honor Harrington series.  Want something with a “superhero” who has to get by on wits alone, then Lois McMaster Bujold has the Miles Vorkosigan series, beginning with “Vor Game.”  If you want to see an interesting team, “Lieutenant Leary Commanding” has a dashing Aubrey-like protagonist with a whizzo signals officer, Adele Munley.  All characters have flaws, but all also prize honor before life.  For a walk on the wild side (Vampire, classic style with a twist) Barbara Hamby’s (or Hanby) excellent “An Old Friend of the Family” is for you.  Trust me, you will like it.

For old fashioned slash and dash, C. S. Forester’s Hornblower series cannot be beat.  I have started rereading them in ordeer.  See how Horatio Hornblower (watch the old Gregory Peck movie or the newer series as well) beats the Frenchies at every turn, like any competent Royal Navy Officer is expected to perform during the Napoleonic Wars.

All are carried at Barnes & Noble as well as well stocked second hand stores, though Zelazney is always hard to find, as he has been dead for ten years.  Damn stomach cancer.  Amazon has them as well, so even if you live in Nowheresville, you can get them cheaply and quickly.

...or just borrow one of Charlie's numerous copies

Yes, that is an option. 

Mike Dennis also liked Lord of Light.

Tonight I am proofreading Atlantic Navies (at least the German Half, Gruppe Nord) and for background noise there are three great Flicks:

Animal House

The Freshman

Charlie's Aunt (the one staring Hoover from Animal House, not the original Jack Benny version).

I recommend them all.

Tireal dared us not to feel something, and alas, I took his dare and felt nothing.

Read Randy Pausch's "Last Lectures."  The ex UVA professor, who died of pancreatic cancer this July (he was tenured at Carnegie Mellon) celebrates life and provides numerous observations from the point of view of a "shortimer" with 3 young children and a wife with whom he was deeply in love.  You will laugh, you might cry at unexpected moments (I did), and you will, in some odd way, be entertained.

Hardback, and overpriced at 8" x 5", 210 pgs listing for $22.

PM me if you want to borrow my copy.

Some comments - he lists 5 well known cliches and explains what they mean to him.

"Dance with the one who brung you."
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."  Seneca
"Whether you think you can or can't, you're right."
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play."
and one I used earlier
"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."

He had a  unique perspective of time, one only available to one who knows death is near.

He was - outstanding.  My son's oldest friend (the youngest child of my best man and, if such a term can be used, my closest friend) who have known each other since Jacob's birth, was fortunate enough to hear some of Randy's lectures.  Praise does not do what he said justice.

Read it.

One of my copies of Lord of Light and Lord Demon will be at the game, if anyone PMs me ahead of time wanting them.

"Last Lectures."

Hardback, and overpriced at 8" x 5", 210 pgs listing for $22.

I can get for $10.98 per copy.........

With my Barnes & Noble discounts, I got it for $14, but if one paid list...

David Weber:
I'm a fan but have been starting to realize his limitations as an author.  If you started reading his books back when he started writing and read them as they came out, you probably never notice anything.  However, if you live in upstate NY and have nothing to do besides work and peruse various forums online, you may make the choice to go on a David Weber reading binge.  Then you realize that he has a tendency to reuse imagery...ALL THE TIME.  Still a good example of Military Sci-Fi with decent characterization.  Also bear in mind if you decide to read his books, Weber is an economic conservative, and those views are very obvious in his books.  So much so that socialists or economic liberals are painted with a very broad brush.


Dan Abnett (Gaunt's Ghosts, Eisenhorn) is a good author, and while he may be much more 'pulp' than any hard sci-fi author, his stories are a fun read with awesome characters.  Anyone who enjoys the Warhammer 40,000 universe, of course, knows that reading his books is a fething requirement.  If you odn't know 40K at all, you'll be lost.  If you do know 40K, read his books.  They really help bring a universe alive, and if he doesn't exactly wrestle with underlying social, political, or technological issues in society, well...it's 40K; "In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war" makes a better tagline than "In the grim darkness of the far future there is only responsible social dialog and universal equality and understanding."

I will always be an Arthur C Clarke fan,  Yes, he did write some stuff just cause his publisher said to, but most writers do that.  Imperial Earth has been one of my favorites since the day I read it. 

I have no problem with tanks that fly and all that good stuff, but Warhamster is something I could never get into, despite my love for miniatures based gaming.  Thus I have no interest in books based on the world.  I am ok with Necromunda, which I view as a gateway game.

David Weber has lost a step in his Harrington series.  THe last book's cover showed her not wearing a ring that was very importnt to the story.  The old Weber would have caught that in a flash.  Still, going from an A author to a B, B+ is ok.  He has a huge corpus of work, which I always enjoy when discovering an author.  Besides, how many good authors write about a woman protagonist?

Clarke was wonderful and has many fine works and a few that are just not for me.  Heinlein showed women in an interesting light, especially his non-Boys Life work of the 60s and 70s. 

Why do you call it Warhamster?